Sept. 15, 2011
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Joe Fisher’s Mailbag Submit Your Question Wondering about a player, a game or another topic involving the Commodores? The Voice of the Commodores Joe Fisher will answer a variety of questions from fans during the season on VUcommodores.com. |
Can we play Duke? I think we can beat them! It would be super fun for the fans since the students have a lot of friends who go there. We would probably road trip to see it if you guys played in Durham! Consider it for next season please!
– Lucy, New York, N.Y.
We played Duke in 2008 here in Nashville, and actually played in Durham in a 45-28 shootout win in 2006.We have played them off and on over the past number of years. In fact, as I recall former Chancellor Gordon Gee took a plane full of students down there once for a game. Many elements of future schedules are finalized years in advance, though we did just finalize a four year series with Massachusetts this week. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Duke on our schedule at some point in the future.
At this point in the season, what is the current plans on which freshmen will not redshirt? I am impressed with this VU football team, CJF and staff! This is a different team, with a different attitude and a never quit mentality. Let’s go get win number three! All In! Go Dores! Thanks.
– Mark, White Bluff, Tenn.
Coach Franklin has told me that there will come a point in the season where he will sit down with each freshman in regard to a decision on redshirting or not. We’re only two games into the season at this point, so it’s still too early to declare some guys redshirted.My guess is sometime midseason the staff and players will arrive at that decision.
It may have been addressed before but why is Warren Norman not playing right now? If not as a RB at least as a kick returner. Thanks.
– Jay, Nashville
As you can imagine, there were a ton of questions in the mailbag about Warren.All I can tell you is he takes part in practice every day and is available to play.By avoiding the wear and tear and contact to this point, his knee gets every week. I would imagine the plan for Warren this week is the same; he is available and ready.
Hello Joe, no question, comment only, I’m 55 years old and a native Nashvillian and WAS a NON-Vanderbilt fan, until Dec, 19. 2010 when my son was life-flighted to VUMC with a head injury, spent 12 days in a coma and at first a grim report. Through prayer and the professionals at VUMC, God gave me back our son, he lost a forth of his skull to relieve pressure on his brain. last week my son attended the VU – Elon game, he is back at work, living at his home and has had a God miracle.
I really don’t know what all this has to do with football, Vanderbilt or any other sport, but from a UT fan I realize that sports are just that, sports, but through that hospital and God’s power I saw that life and any sport is only an avenue to many sources in our lives. My wife and myself would pray as we would hear the LifeFlight helicopter fly in and see the families that would soon show up in the waiting room as we had done just days before, and receive them as we were received to pray with or just cry and put an arm around them. Please forgive me for “wasting” your valuable time with my ramblings, but now as a NEW ‘Dores fan, due to the love in mine and my wives heart for this University, Hospital, and all the wonderful staff that makes up the supporting facilities. Just had to tell somebody thank you Lord, Vanderbilt, staff, and you, Joe, for listening. Thank you.
– Gary W. Baggett Sr., Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Gary, believe me, the last thing you did by sending that e-mail to me was to “waste” my time. Vanderbilt is truly a special place, not only because of the first-class educational opportunity it affords, along with the first-class athletic experience. You can’t place a value on what it means to have a world class medical facility as part of the Vanderbilt family.From sports medicine, to emergency care, to teaching, to research, Vanderbilt is widely recognized for excellence. It does, in fact, have something to do with athletics. I’ve had many parents of Vanderbilt athletes tell me that having a nationally-ranked medical facility at our disposal was of great comfort to them, and a factor in having their son or daughter decide to come to school here.We even had a recent football player who was involved in a serious accident going home from his official visit, and was treated at Vanderbilt. His family says the care he received went a long way in committing to play here. And while we’re talking about the value of VUMC, I can’t put a value on what your e-mail means to me.
Most of all, I’m so thrilled you received the miracle of getting your son back. I hope you’ll contact me so I can meet you and your family when you attend your next Commodore game.
Did they ever officially name the stadium horn?
– Jack Hunter, Dickson, Tenn.
Yes, they did, Jack. The official name for the stadium horn is now “The Admiral”.
Greetings Joe,
Enjoy you as our Voice of the Commodores! You’re a homer and we wouldn’t settle for anything less.
Chris Marve is off to a great start, ranking among the nation’s best in total tackles. If he keeps up his current pace of 9.5 per game, will he become Vanderbilt’s all-time leader in that category?Also, given he continues as he has so far, would he merit consideration as a first team All-America?
thanks
– Brent Hurst, Whites Creek, Tenn.
P.S. I’m sure you won’t remember, but I taught you Algebra II in the 10th grade at Antioch, I was Mrs. Torrence’s student teacher during the fall semester.Looks like you turned out all right despite that fact.
Brent, you will notice that I didn’t go into a career where algebra was a prerequisite. Chris currently has 325 total tackles. Andrew Coleman, the “Secretary of Defense,” holds the career record at Vanderbilt with 458 tackles.So, that number will be difficult, but not impossible to reach. As you well know, many times individual accolades can be boosted by team success.Chris certainly deserves the attention, but his stock will rise if the Commodores continue winning.
